Benefit Confessions of a Concealaholic

RRP: £28.50

--What does the promo say?--

"Embrace your inner concealaholic! Why deny it when you can hide it, conceal it, camouflage & cover it? This concealing & brightening kit has EVERYTHING you need to satisfy all your concealing cravings!

Kit contains: “that gal” brightening face primer, boi-ing industrial strength concealer in 2 shades (01, 02) for custom concealing, erase paste (02 medium) brightening camouflage for eyes and face, lemon aid colour correcting eyelid primer, eye bright instant eye brightener, concealer brushes and a step-by-step lesson."

--Packaging--

Very cutesy, in Benefit's usual vintage style. Everything inside the kit is nicely laid out, and brushes, while perhaps not strictly necessary for this particular kit (I just get in there with my fingers), are provided. The mirror is ample and the amounts of Lemon Aid, Eye Bright, Erase Paste and Boi-ing are generous (That Gal is a bit more piddly). Some magnetic closures or attachments would be nice: a number of times the That Gal tube has tried to make a quick getaway while I've been on the move and scraped the Boi-ing pans on its way through.

--Application--

Full instructions are included inside the compact, but essentially it goes as follows: apply Lemon Aid to your eyelids and Erase Paste underneath your eyes. That Gal goes all over your face. Mix the shades of Boi-ing to create your own custom shade of concealer (or just use one, as I do), and finally use the Eye Bright around the edges of your eyes to make them look more awake. There's nothing tricky about anything here and the enclosed instructions are detailed yet concise to ensure you can't go wrong.

--Scents--

Slightly chalky in places, but nothing offensive overall. The only one I didn't like much was That Gal, which seems to have a touch of that artificial strawberry type scent about it.

--Appearance--

I was already familiar with Lemon Aid and Boi-ing and continue to be happy with these for the way in which they even out skin tone and blend easily to create a long-lasting base. Eye Bright I was already familiar with but don't use much, as I find it doesn't do much for me. I found the same with That Gal and Erase Paste - I don't have that many dark circles to speak of, and it seems a faff to use one product under the eyes and another on the eye lids when Lemon Aid smooths out both just as well. That Gal just seemed to make my skin look pinker unfortunately (not brightened) - which is not really the effect you're after when you're already sporting the English rose look to begin with, and suffering with acne on top. Overall, the effect provided is that of a good base: you'd look a bit plain without something else to pimp your look (e.g. lip gloss) - so ultimately you do need other products in addition.

--Textures and consistency--

No problems here: Boi-ing, Lemon Aid and Eye Bright are heavy-duty but still blend well and don't weigh your skin down or clog pores. That Gal could be a little creamier perhaps but is ultimately not too runny and still goes on easily. Erase Paste is perhaps a little greasy on the fingertip but again gives a good result in the end without causing any discomfort when worn.

--Longevity--

Erase Paste is very impressive in that it doesn't settle into creases at all, so top marks there. Lemon Aid lasts quite well but begins to waver in this respect. Did not notice much degradation with any of the products, truth be told; this is something that Benefit does well.

--Value for money--

While the price may initially make a potential buyer wince, it's still the best way of trying out several Benefit products in one go without breaking the bank. It really helps to confirm which products suit you and which ones don't - and personally, I'll know to stick to the products from this kit that I already know and love (Boi-ing and Lemon Aid), with the rest just not being that suitable for my purposes. The Benefit kits are always handy, good value, and great fun to have and would make an excellent gift for others (or indeed for yourself...!).

perfect partners

Posie Tint, £24.50

Bad Gal Lash Mascara, £16.50